What is a feature of NAS as an external storage solution?

A feature of Network Attached Storage (NAS) as an external storage solution is that it provides file-based storage access. NAS systems are designed primarily for storing files and enabling users to access those files over a network. This makes them suitable for environments where multiple users need to access shared data, such as documents, media files, and backups.

File-based access means that NAS operates using standard network file sharing protocols, such as NFS (Network File System) for Unix/Linux systems and SMB (Server Message Block) for Windows systems. This design allows clients to easily connect to NAS devices over the network and access files as if they were stored locally on their own machines.

In contrast to other types of storage solutions like block storage, which is often used in high-performance transactional systems or databases, NAS focuses on providing a user-friendly interface for file access. This distinction makes NAS particularly effective in scenarios requiring sharing of files and collaboration among multiple users or systems over a network.